Army veteran killed, wife seriously injured in Melaka robbery

MELAKA: An army veteran was slashed to death and his wife seriously injured during an armed robbery incident at the couple’s home in Taman Bukit Terendak, Sungai Udang here last night.

Melaka Tengah police chief ACP Afzanizar Ahmad said an elderly couple, Abdul Rahman Pileh and Sabturiah Lakidau, aged 60 and 59, was found covered in blood in their house at around 8.45pm.

“The wife was found in front of the house, covered in blood with severe injuries to the mouth, while the husband was found sprawled in a pool of blood.

“Further investigation revealed that Abdul Rahman died following a neck injury believed to have been caused by a sharp object. However, the murder weapon has yet to be found,” he told Bernama when contacted here today.

He said, Sabturiah was rushed to the Melaka Hospital and had to undergo a surgery.

Afzanizar said, initial investigation revealed that the motive for the incident was robbery, however, further inspection of the victim’s house is underway and the police are waiting for confirmation from his family.

“Following the incident, at around 10.30pm yesterday, we detained a 35-year-old man near the victim’s housing area to assist in the investigation,” he said, adding that the suspect has been remanded for seven days, beginning today to July 21.

Meanwhile, Melaka police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said the suspect was an army sergeant at the Terendak Camp, in Sungai Udang here, and tested positive for drugs.

Police also seized from the suspect a bracelet believed to belong to the victim.

Abdul Jalil added, the post-mortem report revealed that Abdul Rahman died of injuries to the neck and Sabturiah had successfully undergone surgery and was in stable condition.